Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Nobles Dyed in Darkness (5)
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The lieutenant colonel's fist didn't miss its mark in the empty air this time.
"Urk...!"
It grazed the side of the dark blue robe.
Just a graze, yet it tore away a chunk of her side, blood surging out in a gush.
"Impressive indeed. They said you were one of the people to watch out for."
She clutched her side and sealed the wound with black magic.
Soon after, she gazed down from a spot separated from the battlefield.
"Before we go, I should weaken their forces a bit."
The black mages, including her, had no intention of ending things here.
Not a short-term all-out assault where they'd sacrifice their own flesh, but a long-term strategy to whittle them down bit by bit.
So, it wouldn't hurt to shake off anything useless before leaving.
With a wave of her hand, sticky mana gathered in one corner of the battlefield.
The mana, transformed by a single spell, soon raised a powerful experimental subject to its feet.
"I originally planned to deploy it with the other specimens, but since the plan's gone awry, now's the perfect time to use it."
Far more corrupted mana enveloped this specimen than the others.
Its muscles were even more hypertrophied, and its purple glowing eyes exuded an instinctive sense of intimidation.
Releasing control over it, she turned and fled as the rampaging specimen charged forward.
**
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The battle ended more anticlimactically than expected.
Part of it was me targeting the golems' weaknesses effectively, but more than anything, the soldiers' skill levels were high.
The mages alone could already handle abbreviated and omitted incantations.
No chantless casting, unfortunately, but that's rare to see anyway.
The golems exploded under blast magic, and the bizarre flesh lumps fell to the aftershocks and sword strikes.
"Of course, it's thanks to the lieutenant colonel targeting the key points."
From atop a mass-produced golem's shoulder, I surveyed the battlefield.
Fortunately, things were starting to wrap up.
Flesh lump—more precisely, humanoid in form, but twice the size and covered in muscle.
That was the base shape, with some having abnormally swollen arms or legs that were unnaturally thin.
"We should capture a few of them."
I issued the order through the megaphone I'd brought, and soon two were secured.
Already badly weakened, they were subdued with ease.
"Alright, time for me to—"
"GRROOOAAAR!!"
Whoa, damn! What the hell?
A sudden roar shook the battlefield, startling me.
I whipped my head around to see one that stood out starkly from the rest.
"What is that thing?"
It wasn't quite leg-shaking terrifying, but it looked plenty threatening nonetheless.
Lieutenant Colonel Riten spotted it too and rushed toward it, shouting.
"Anyone who can retreat, do so now! If you can fight, stick with me!"
Massive mana gathered in the lieutenant colonel's fist.
So much that for a split second, space itself seemed to warp.
Watching that, I decided to do my part.
"No way I'm jumping into that fray anyway."
Boom!
One punch from her sent a boulder flying effortlessly—how was I supposed to assist a battle mage like that?
Instead, I tended to the wounded, evacuated the captured enemies to the rear, and positioned the mass-produced golems upfront to block as much of the fight's fallout as possible.
"Man, is that a fight between people or monsters?"
The clash between the berserk monster and Lieutenant Colonel Riten was the center of it all.
The others were providing support, but they weren't landing effective hits.
Bang!
As the lieutenant colonel and monster swung fists at each other, they collided with a thunderous boom.
Yet neither seemed pained, flowing straight into the next attack.
After several exchanges, one of the monster's arms exploded.
"Oh, she's got it."
Blood sprayed everywhere as it let out an agonized scream.
The lieutenant colonel swiftly leaped onto its back and struck its neck.
"Grrraaah...."
With a dull thud, the monster collapsed forward.
The lieutenant colonel panted lightly, her hand trembling as she barked orders to clean up.
She approached me in a flash.
"Is the cleanup done?"
"Yes, sir. We've captured a few, and injuries aren't too bad."
"Good work. Leave the rest to Fiona and Letin. You've got somewhere to go with me."
Somewhere to go?
The lieutenant colonel gestured without stating the destination.
I followed her lead, puzzled why she wouldn't say.
I soon found out.
"Need to interrogate someone. Had to keep it quiet, as you know. Gonna squeeze some info out before they get dragged off."
"Oh, it's this guy."
Couldn't make out his face from afar.
But up close, it was the bastard who'd tormented me before.
One of the nobles who'd shipped me off to the council.
Who would've thought he'd join the rebellion.
As I stood there dumbfounded, the lieutenant colonel misunderstood.
"Hm? You know him? Then you can sit this out."
"No, sir. If anything, he's someone I owe revenge to."
"Perfect."
She switched gears instantly.
Then slapped the unconscious man's cheek to wake him.
"Get up. Got a familiar guest for you."
"Ugh... Hah! Wh-where am I?!"
He gasped awake and looked around wildly.
Spotting me, his eyes bulged in shock.
"Y-you damned Rlangbur! What are you doing here?!"
"Got conscripted, obviously. More importantly, why'd you join the rebels?"
"Th-that's..."
He averted his gaze and clammed up.
Lieutenant Colonel Riten clicked her tongue and raised her mana.
"You'd better talk here. It'll mean less torture later. You know that better than anyone, Phillips."
"Eek! Fine, I'll talk!"
Was it the torture or her that scared him?
Either way, he spilled everything like a machine gun.
Listening, I let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"So, to sum up, you started all this for revenge on me?"
"More like you were the spark. Phillips, your story's absurd. But not entirely unbelievable, which makes it hilarious."
The lieutenant colonel shook her head with a hollow laugh, equally baffled.
Suddenly, he was getting sneered at by both of us.
Enraged by that, Phillips snapped.
"Aaaargh! That black mage bastard! Where the hell did he go?!"
"Where else? Dropped one last freak and bolted. Anyway, got what we needed. Time to go. I'll report to His Majesty properly."
Phillips thrashed to avoid being dragged off.
But bound and in Lieutenant Colonel Riten's grip, escape was impossible.
In the end, he was half-dragged across the ground.
I climbed back onto the mass-produced golem's shoulder and followed.
Time to head back.
**
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Regrettably, we couldn't return straight to Rlangbur.
There were matters to handle, but above all, the emperor's command.
So now, I was in audience with him.
Kneeling on one knee, head bowed.
"Edn Rlangbur. I heard from Lieutenant Colonel Riten. Your exploits were remarkable."
"You're too kind, Your Majesty."
"Nonsense. I offer my sincere thanks for your service and grant you this reward."
The emperor gave me a medal and a wish voucher.
Obviously, the medal held no interest for me.
My eyes went to the voucher: a right to take one item from the imperial treasury.
So I picked up a staff.
"But what to use it for?"
Eh, maybe someday.
I gripped it to check durability, then tucked it away.
Now, off to the execution grounds.
They'd asked me to attend the execution of the rebellion's ringleaders.
Honestly didn't want to go, but it was the emperor's word—no refusing that.
As Edn headed to the execution grounds, Phillips despaired in his cell.
Not that he hadn't before, but this was on another level.
"Ha, haha. Never thought I'd end up dead."
The investigation wrapped up surprisingly fast.
Just a week, leaving people impressed by the emperor's efficiency.
Phillips and the others knew the truth.
The verdict was decided from the start.
All rebel nobles faced searches and seizures.
Most lost their fortunes; some their titles or were demoted.
A few were sentenced to death.
"If I die, my house will be wiped out for three generations."
In a world with collective punishment, they could do worse.
His descendants might bear the criminal stigma forever.
"Phillips Hyta! And the other fifteen! On your feet!"
Several guards approached and dragged them out.
As he was hauled away, Phillips reflected on how it came to this.
At first, he blamed Edn in fury.
Then cursed his allies' stupidity.
Then the black mage—until realization hit.
"Ah, I've just been blaming everyone else."
He'd pinned it all on others' faults.
He regretted it, but still shoved responsibility outward.
Maybe that was the real cause of failure.
Only at the end did he see his own fault.
Too late to turn back; his neck was fixed to the guillotine.
"Haha, what a shitty life."
Life's a bastard.
Always forcing choices without giving answers.
Humans choose, then learn the truth.
Or that truth might not be right for others.
So life's a bastard.
And so was he, for living it that way.
Phillips closed his eyes quietly, thinking.
"Dr. Jekyll. Haha, I made a foolish choice swept up in impulse, just like you."
"Execute!"
The guard's shout rang out, and the massive blade fell.
That was Phillips's final memory.